Turkmen MMA fighter Dovletjan Yagshimuradov spoke to Eurasia Review about the importance of sports in strengthening peace. The interview with the famous athlete was conducted by Derya Soysal, an expert at the Belgian Diplomatic World Institute.

Yagshimuradov noted that sports unite people and serve as a way to promote peace. He emphasized that children in Turkmenistan grow up with sports from an early age, which makes it an important part of the country’s culture.

Yagshimuradov, who competes in the light heavyweight category of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and is the current champion, expressed pride in the opportunity to represent Turkmenistan on the world stage. He also called on the younger generation to never give up and believe in their dreams.

On November 29, in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), as part of the regular mixed martial arts tournament PFL World Championship 2024, Dovletjan Yagshimuradov defeated American fighter Impa Kasanganaya in the PFL Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Final and became the first PFL champion in the history of Turkmenistan.